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Because ascorbic acid is acidic, it tends to act as an acid when mixed with water. "Acting as an acid" means that ascorbic acid loses one of its hydrogen atoms, resulting in production of a closely related molecule called ascorbate, with the chemical formula C6H7O6. Because they're so closely related, it's not uncommon for scientists to refer to ascorbate as ascorbic acid--or vice versa. This is because whenever you consume ascorbic acid, some of it converts into ascorbate, and whenever you consume ascorbate, some of it converts into ascorbic acid.